JULY—AUGUST 2018 Issue # 446 OMG!! The Mizen Head Footbridge — see page 2 Who is this? — see page 16 JULY—AUGUST 2018 446-2 New Issues Europa 2018 "Bridges" IRELAND 2v self-adhesive ISLE OF MAN 1v from a set of 6v celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway Issue date 3 May 2018 Issue date 30 June 2018 The Mizen Head Footbridge is a reinforced concrete through- arch structure which provides access to a light- house at the tip of Mizen Head in the south west of County Cork. The current bridge From the Isle of Man Post Office: was constructed “A set of six stamps chosen from an open photo- during 2009 and graphic competition, in collaboration with Isle of 2010 to replace Man Railways, to showcase images which enthu- an older bridge siasts felt best represented the Manx Electric Rail- which had existed way (MER). for almost a cen- “The unique 3ft (914mm) gauge MER is a pio- tury. It is virtually identical to the original, but a neering inter-urban tramway, operating a fleet of bit wider. This allowed using the original bridge vintage 500 volt DC tramcars. The oldest passen- as “falsework” during construction of the new ger tramcars date from 1893 and the newest one. — from “Bridges of Dublin” from 1906. They operate a scenic 17 ¾ mile (28.5 km) route up the Island's rugged east coast from the capital Douglas to Ramsey Town in the north of the Island. “Today, the MER is still reliant on the tourist trade. A lot of money has been spent over the The Boyne Via- last couple of decade on the MER with major roll- duct ing stock, track and infrastructure renewals to is a 30-meter-high (98 ft) railway bridge that bring the system up to modern standards. De- crosses the River Boyne in Drogheda, carrying the spite these changes, a ride on the MER today is main Dublin–Belfast railway line. Completed in like stepping back in time to a Victorian age, 1855, it was the seventh bridge of its kind in the when the horse was the king of the road, and the world when built, and considered one of the pace of life much slower.” wonders of the age. It comprises twelve stone The EU value is a photograph of No 9 Crossing arches on south side, and a further three on the Ballure Viaduct. Ballure Halt is an intermediate north. It was re-furbished in the 1930s and was stopping place on the northern section of considered to be of great strategic importance the MER. during WWII. — from Wikipedia JULY—AUGUST 2018 446-3 New Issues Europa 2018 "Bridges" FRANCE 1v French ANDORRA 1v Issue date Issue date 22 May 2018 5 May 2018 “Bridge on Both Banks” Tosca Bridge The Deux Rives footbridge over the Rhine is sus- pended from two protruding columns, allowing the two pedestrian and bicycle aprons to meet at the center of the river. This is where in 2009 An old arched bridge located at Escaldes- NATO leaders chose to meet for a handshake Engordany and allowing the passage of the old celebrating the 60th anniversary of the alliance, parish road over the last stretch of the Madriu testifying to the symbolic power of the place. River. Completed in 1820, it is a stone bridge, in A four-sided and two-side high-deck metal the Romanesque tradition, supported by an arch bridge, its sober and efficient architecture is the in the center, taking direct support on the rock physical manifestation of the spirit of the Euro- of both banks. pean Coal and Steel Community. — excerpted from La Poste — excerpted from La Poste New Issues sepac 2018 “Spectacular Views” LIECHTENSTEIN 1v MONACO 1v from a set of 4v Issue date 7 June 2018 Issue date 4 June 2018 The motif is “Monaco under the snow.” Really. This set of four is the second in a GREENLAND 1v series titled “Summit Issue date 25 May 2018 Crosses”. Per Philatelie Liechtenstein: “The folded layers of rock at “Kläusli” (CHF 1.50) present a fascinating sight. The stamp also serves A mountainous region in East Greenland, seen in as Liechtenstein’s SEPAC stamp this year.” shallow darkness, with the spectacular lights of aurora seen in the sky above. JULY—AUGUST 2018 446-4 New Issues Europa 2018 "Bridges" ESTONIA 2v LATVIA 2v Issue date 3 May 2018 Issue date 20 April 2018 Arched Bridge in Tartu Jugla railway bridge Bridge over the Gauja Stone Bridge in Tartu For 2018, Latvia chose images of two iron railroad bridges. The first is the bridge over Lake Jugla, in Riga. The high value depicts the Gauja River Rail- way Bridge, which crosses the Gauja River in Ūdriņi, Latvia as part of the Riga–Valka– Pskov railway line. It was opened around 1889. The Arched Bridge (Kaarsild), is a pedestrian — from Shutterstock and Wikipedia walkway that spans the Emajõgi river from the Town Hall Square to Atlantis nightclub. The arch LITHUANIA 2v itself is considered to be a challenge to walk on, and is usually attempted by younger people on a Issue date 20 April 2018 dare. Beneath the surface of the river remain the stone foundations of the Stone Bridge (Kivisild), an ear- lier structure that existed on the same spot. When the Stone Bridge was opened in 1784, it was seen as a catalyst for Tartu’s development. It was built by order of Empress Catherine II, who dispatched 25,000 rubles to the city to help it recover from the devastating fire of 1775. The handsome struc- Trakai Castle Bridge (left) - a pedestrian bridge ture featured two heavy stone arches supporting on Lake Galvė leading to one of the larger islands two towers, with a central drawbridge to allow - Castle Island in Trakai. The bridge connecting river barges to pass. the city with the castle consists of two parts, The Stone Bridge stood until 1941, when the re- among which is the Karaim or Cowan Island. — from PostEurop treating Soviet army blew it up. Their dynamiting efforts destroyed only half of the bridge, yet the Castle Bridge (right) - a “lifting bridge” across the remaining portion was obliterated in 1944 by the Dane River in Klaipėda. First built in 1826, primari- retreating Nazis. The Arched Bridge was built in ly as a wooden bridge, it was reconstructed over its place in 1959. Today one historical society is the years with metal. The bridge design was unique - it was not welded, but reinforced with pushing for the removal of the Arched Bridge and rivets. It is currently undergoing extensive mod- the resurrection of the Stone Bridge. ernization. — from Wikipedia — from InYourPocket.com JULY—AUGUST 2018 446-5 New Issues Europa 2018 "Bridges" ITALY 2v self-adhesive LUXEMBOURG 2v Issue date 15 May 2018 Issue date 9 May 2018 The bridge over the Metauro di Fermi- gnano with the adja- cent medieval tower. The Tower appears to be a typical medieval fac- tory, perhaps resting on supposedly Roman foundations. Bridge and tower are closely related and constitute a single, monumental complex of fundamental strategic importance in the context of medieval roads. At the foot of the tower is the public fountain called "Mask," built in 1886. — from YAMGU Social Travelling “Like every other year, POST Luxembourg has organised a drawing contest for primary school children in the 3rd and 4th grades, and adoles- The Verona Stone cents in secondary school. The young artists il- Bridge on the Adige lustrated “bridges” - the theme, which was estab- river. lished this year for the EUROPE series by the joint publication of European postal administrations. The Ponte Pietra (Italian for "Stone Bridge"), is More than 800 students participated in this com- a Roman arch bridge completed in 100 BC. It is petition. The respective winners in both age the oldest bridge in Verona. The arch nearest to groups, who will receive a prize of €1,000 each the right bank of the Adige was rebuilt in 1298 are Lola Kirsch and Gaia Vetere. Their motifs will by Alberto I della Scala. Four arches of the bridge be published as postage stamps.” were blown up by retreating German troops — from Luxembourg Post in World War II, but rebuilt in 1957 with original The designs are fascinating. The high value in materials. — from Wikipedia particular really drew me in. —ed. MONTENEGRO 1v + ss of 1v (shown). The stamp within the ss is identical to the single stamp. Issue date 9 May 2018 One of the oldest bridges in Montenegro is the Bridge on Moštanica in Nikšić, also known as the Roman Bridge. It was built by the Romans in the 3rd century AD. and is made of hewn stone. Declared a cultural monument in 1947, conserva- tion works are now in progress, as this is a very interesting site – also due to the fact that there is an medieval graveyard in the vicinity. — from “Living in Montenegro” JULY—AUGUST 2018 446-6 New Issues Europa 2018 "Bridges" GREECE 2v se-tenant. Also in a horizontal strip POLAND 1v of 4 sold in booklets (2 sets/booklet) Issue date Issue date 24 May 2018 2 May 2018 Old Railway Bridge in Tczew Built between 1851 and 1857 as a road and rail bridge, this was the longest bridge in Europe at the time and one of the largest in the world at 837m (2750 ft) long. It was supported on seven The Rio – Antirrio Bridge The Plaka Bridge pillars, and had ten towers and two gates with The Rio–Antirrio Bridge is the world's third- beautiful portals.